Joey Votto’s ridiculous Dodgers-Phillies comparison is earning him flack from all sides

NBC has been utilizing several MLB greats as analysts during the network's broadcasts this year. Among them are Chicago Cubs' hero Anthony Rizzo, Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw, and former NL MVP Joey Votto.

Votto is one of the most well-respected minds in baseball. He's incredibly cerebral and personable; however, his recent comments that the Philadelphia Phillies starters aren’t much of a step down from the Dodgers didn't go over well with those who heard it.

Votto is comparing a starting rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow to Jesus Luzardo, Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola. That feels like a stretch, and a big one at that.

Joey Votto’s insane Dodgers-Phillies comparison didn't sit well with the LA faithful

If Skubal's NLDS Game 1 performance was any indication, the Phillies do not have one pitcher who comes that close to the Dodgers' southpaw. Does Philadelphia have anyone close to the status of Yamamoto, who had one of the most notable postseason performances of all-time?

The Phillies rotation was great this season, but the Dodgers starter present an almost unfair matchup for any lineup. Some pundits have speculated that the Dodgers have the best rotation ever, and fans cannot help but agree whenever they see what these guys are capable of.

On the surface, suggesting the Phillies starters are in the same ballpark as the Dodgers isn't the most outlandish thing to suggest. Luzardo, Sanchez, and Wheeler finished the 2026 regular season ranked 9th, 11th and 12th in ERA amongst qualified MLB pitchers, respectively.

On the other hand, the Phillies rotation has been unable to spearhead series victories during the past couple of season, whereas the Dodgers rotation has been agruably the biggest reason why LA has won back-to-back World Series championships.

Since 2025, Luzardo, Sanchez, Wheeler and Nola have a combined to go 0-3 in the postseason, Yamamoto, Skubal, Snell and Glasnow posted a 9-3 record in last year's playoffs. The Phillies rotation has three quality starts in their seven postseason games since 2025, whereas the Dodgers starters have 11 over 16.

Phillies fans are angry — and rightfully so — following their team's disappointing series loss to the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Series. Hindsight certainly is 20/20 when discussing Votto's comments, but he clearly believed in the Phillies starters more than their fans.

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